The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions
The Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program by the DOE, executed through NREL, aims to support communities in creating secure, reliable, resilient, equitable, and affordable clean energy systems. The In-Depth Partnerships initiative enables communities to develop actionable plans for their clean energy ambitions, tackling key energy challenges with the support of local government, community organizations, electric utilities, and other stakeholders. These partnerships leverage advanced modeling, analysis tools, and hands-on demonstrations tailored to each community's unique needs. They focus on a wide range of topics including the impact of new energy technologies, infrastructure changes required for clean energy goals, system reliability during extreme events, implications for jobs, air quality, health, local economy, environmental justice, and the financial and social benefits of a clean electricity grid. The program offers significant subcontracting funding and technical assistance to assist communities in testing and evaluating energy transition strategies before comprehensive implementation.